Smoking | Addictions

This was me on our wedding day, severely asthmatic but hopelessly addicted to cigarettes. My dad had quit years before me, and if you asked him if he wanted a cigarette, he'd passionately say, "YES! But I'm not going to do it." The thought of spending the next 50 or more years of my life longing for a cigarette was just more than I could bear.

A few years later, I became a Christian. There was this scripture that proclaimed my body was the temple of the Holy Spirit. I knew smoking was killing me, but I had no clue how to stop. Then I ran across Phillipians 2:13. The version I had at the time translated it this way: For my God is working within you to create both the desire and the ability to do His will.

 I went to God and confessed my fears and my absolute lack of desire to quit. I held this scripture up to Him and asked Him to change me. Some people, when they ask God to help them quit, are delivered right away, but me, well, I'm pretty stubborn by nature. I tell people I came into the Kingdom kicking and screaming. God had His work cut out for Him, but He is able! So for the next 2 years, every time I put a cigarette to my lips, I would tell myself that scripture, "Thank You, LORD. You are working within me to create in me both the desire and the ability to quit smoking. "

Then, one day, I ran across a teaching by Marilyn Hickey about how to quit. She suggested that you set a quitting date. Then get a jar with some water in it to put your cigarette butts in. Every time you put a cigarette out, take a big whiff of how disgusting that is, and speak any and all scriptures you can find about how we are the body of Christ and the freedom we have in Him. The emphasis was to be on freedom, not quitting. In addition, she suggested changing brands often to step down the amount of nicotine content and making it a goal to cut back on the number of cigarettes each day. Then, when you get to your quit day, take whatever cigarettes you have and stomp on them, declaring that God has given you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions. And just to top it off, pray that if you ever put another cigarette to your mouth, that He will make you throw up! 

On January 10th, 1985, I trampled on my last few cigarettes and walked away. The cravings didn't magically disappear. For many months, every time I felt the temptation, I would stop and spend a few moments praying in tongues. Over time, the cravings grew further and further apart. Eventually, when the temptation to smoke would rear its ugly head, my response became, "Eww! Why would I want to do that?" It's been 41 years today, and I honestly can't remember the last time I had that temptation.

Are you dealing with an addiction or a habitual sin that you just can't seem to shake? Go to God. Ask Him to change your desires and to give you the ability to do His will. He will show you how to overcome. It may take a while, just keep asking, keep knocking, keep praying. It will come!